Baslinux mailing list

[sindi keesan <keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org>]

Re Compaq Deskpro:

> If we plug it into primary master it boots from floppy disk (did not try
> IDE) and I can run loop BL3 from the IDE drive.  So I will copy over a
> scsi kernel to the IDE drive, and boot loop BL3 and use it to copy the
> entire BL3 and Bl2 file system to the SCSI from the IDE drive that was in
> the failed Presario.  And hope I can boot directly to the scsi drive linux
> with loadlin and then install lilo so Xvesa will work, because this
> computer won't boot without himem.sys and emm386.exe and Xvesa won't work
> with them.  Lilo will also fix the computer that won't boot 2.4.31 unless
> you bypass system files (Gateway Celeron 330MHz).
>
> Sindi

If I add emm386.exe to config.sys I can boot BL3 loop from the IDE drive 
using my scsi kernel and initrd.fs, and then mount the partitions on the 
scsi drive (and presumably transfer linux to them that way).

If I try to boot with my scsi replacement for initfs.gz, from either the 
scsi drive (without IDE drive in there since scsi drive DOS is D:) or the 
IDE drive, I get the same failed boot:

EXT_2-fs:  unable to read superblock   (of loop linux?)
FAT:  unable to read boot sector

On two other computers which did not come with scsi controller, my 
scsifs.gz replacement for initfs.gz works okay (to boot from IDE drive 
with the scsi kernel).

So there is something else strange about this computer (besides needing 
emm386.exe and himem.sys to boot linux at all, and Xvesa not working even 
with MS DOS 7.1 if I have a config.sys with the above two files).

Does the Compaq Diagnostic Diskette suggest any cure for this?  I could 
not fetch it using lynx.

I could leave the IDE drive in there to use for emergency rescue, but was 
hoping to disable the IDE controllers onboard and put in the SCSI CD 
burner.  Can't use BL2 or BL3 floppy rescue disks because they have a 
non-scsi kernel (and my scsi kernel would not fit on them, too big).

Steven, please look at what I did to initfs.gz to make it into
http://keesan.freeshell.org/bl/scsifs.gz - I added /dev/sda1 and also told 
linuxrc to mount that (second, after hda1).   How would these two changes 
prevent booting from C:\baslin on IDE drive?

http://keesan.freeshell.org/bl/2.4.31/configsy.431 and bzimagsy.431 - my 
scsi kernel that works with scsifs.gz to boot loop linux from IDE drive 
except on this computer.  (It even worked in a computer with failing scsi 
controller, and linux on scsi drive).

The computer boots from the IDE drive now but can find the scsi drive. 
(If it boots from floppy disk it cannot find the scsi drive).

I may write Compaq tech support.


I just had a 'memory failure' with a DIMM that worked fine until it 
reached 81 degrees indoors (with case open).  But this is another computer 
(with the failed scsi controller).


Sindi